CHINESE FARMER FILLS IN HIS BALLOT PAPER DURING A LOCAL ELECTION AT ANYE VILLAGE, 2001-02-23...

A Chinese farmer fills in his ballot paper during a local election at Anye village in Houshi Town, east of Changchun city, Jilin Province February 23, 2001. The Chinese government revised the Organic Law of the Villager Committee in late 1998, which improved procedures by allowing multiple candidates and a secret ballot, as an attempt to defuse rising tensions in the vast hinterland. It hoped that by allowing villagers to choose their own leaders, they could develop trust with each other and thus reduce clashes. Tension nevertheless escalated over the years, mainly because of the exorbitant fees and levies on peasants. GN/ASW/TAN